Player Trades

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has acquired defenceman Erik Gudbranson and Florida’s 2016 fifth round pick (NYI) in exchange for Jared McCann and the Canucks 2016 second and fourth round picks.

Gudbranson, 24, spent the 2015.16 season with the Florida Panthers, collecting nine points (2-7-9) and 49 penalty minutes in 64 games. He also appeared in six playoff games. The Ottawa, Ontario native ranked third on the Panthers in hits (150), fourth in blocked shots (73) and fourth in average ice time per game (20:06). The 2010 3rd overall NHL draft pick ranked second on the Panthers and led Florida defencemen in average ice time in the 2016 playoffs (26:54) in addition to ranking second on the team in blocked shots (8).

The 6’5”, 216-pound defenceman has collected 43 points (11-32-43) in 309 NHL regular season games over the span of five seasons with the Panthers.

On the international stage, Gudbranson earned a silver medal as a member of Canada at the 2011 World Junior Championships. He also won gold at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in 2009.

Pats Complete Trade with Silvertips

Regina, Saskatchewan – Regina Pats General Manager and Head Coach John Paddock announced today the team acquired over-age forward Dawson Leedahl (’96) and the WHL playing rights to forward Tyson Jost (’98) from the Everett Silvertips. The Pats traded forward Sean Richards (’98), Red Deer’s fourth round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft as well as conditional draft picks to Everett.

Dawson Leedahl (6’1”, 200 lbs) is a veteran of 226 WHL games over four seasons with the Silvertips. In that time, Leedahl posted 101 points (37G, 64A) to go with 266 penalty minutes. In 2015-16, the Saskatoon, SK product tallied 27 points (12G, 15A) in 48 games to go with a career high 88 penalty minutes. In eight playoff games, Leedahl registered five points (3G, 2A) and 37 penalty minutes. He also served as the Silvertips captain, earning the team’s ‘Unsung Hero’ award the past two seasons. The former second round bantam pick of the Silvertips was a member of the 2012 SMAAAHL Champion Saskatoon Contacts and captured a bronze medal at the Telus Cup.

“Any time you can acquire a player that has been a captain of a team, you are eager to do it,” commented John Paddock. “In Dawson, we are really excited about adding an experienced, big forward to our group who has been playing in a winning program.”

Tyson Jost (5’11”, 191 lbs) was selected 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The St. Albert, AB native played 94 games for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL the past two seasons while totaling 149 points (65G, 84A). Last season, Jost posted 104 points (42G, 62A) in 48 games and was named the BCHL and CJHL Most Valuable Player. Jost captained Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF U-18 World Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota where he led the tournament with 15 points (6G, 9A) in seven games. Jost has committed to the University of North Dakota (NCHC) for this upcoming fall. He was the Silvertips’ seventh overall selection in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.

“We fully know what Tyson’s desires are and we respect that immensely,” continued Paddock. “At some point we will have a conversation with his representatives and him about what we think of him as a player.”

Sean Richards (5’11”, 180 lbs) joined the Pats last October when he was called up from the Olds Grizzlys. The St. Albert, AB native played in 54 games for the Blue and White, totaling 18 points (3G, 15A) and 58 penalty minutes. In the 2016 WHL Playoffs, Richards posted three points (1G, 2A) and was a +3 plus/minus rating in twelve games. The Regina Pats thank Sean for his contributions to the hockey club and community of Regina during his time with the team.

John Paddock will be available to the media in a conference call at 11:00 a.m. CST. To access the call, dial 1-306-781-5995 locally or toll free at 1-866-296-5646. Enter participant passcode 500617.

HITMEN ACQUIRE JAYDAN GORDON FROM SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS

Calgary, AB – The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club today announced they have acquired 19-year-old defenceman Jaydan Gordon from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

“We are pleased to add a 1997-born defenceman to our roster that has experience in the league,” said Mike Moore, Hitmen General Manager and Vice President of Business Operations. “We are also excited that Jaydan is a local player who was named the Broncos’ most improved player last season and will add depth to our defensive core.”

“We have acquired a premier defenseman in Joe Gatenby,” commented General Manager, Stu MacGregor. “We have watched him play plenty of times against us and believe he will be an integral part of our team for the next two seasons.”

Joe Gatenby, who stands at 6’0” and 185lbs, has played 174 regular season games with the Rockets over the past three seasons and has 44 points and is a +64 over his career. He has also suited up in 52 career playoff games, and five Memorial Cup games.

Daniel Gatenby is Joe’s younger brother. The 6’3” and 180lb defender played in 22 games with the Rockets in 2015-16 and 15 games for the Okanagan Rockets of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League.

“Daniel Gatenby is a young defenseman that we feel we can help develop into a consistent WHL defenseman,” said MacGregor. “We’d also like to thank Jake Kryski for his two seasons in Kamloops and we wish him the best.”

Kryski played the last two seasons with the Blazers compiling 65 points in 136 career games.

To purchase your 2016-17 season tickets, or for other ticketing information, please contact Ticketing & Promotions Coordinator, Missy Cederholm at 778-471-8068 or by email at mcederholm@blazerhockey.com.

Rockets Acquire Jake Kryski From Kamloops

Kelowna Rockets President/GM Bruce Hamilton announced a trade on Thursday, acquiring a former 1st round WHL bantam pick from the Kamloops Blazers.

The Rockets have traded defenceman Joe Gatenby, as well as prospect Danny Gatenby, to the Kamloops Blazers, in exchange for 18-year-old forward Jake Kryski.

Kryski, a 5-foot-11, 175 pound left winger, is heading into his third season in the WHL. Last season he scored 12 goals and added 27 assists for 39 points in 67 games with Kamloops. As a rookie, Kryski had 11 goals, 13 assists and 24 points in 65 games played.

“We have an abundance of defencemen and we had an opportunity to get a high-end 1998-born forward, which is a spot we had some room,” said Hamilton. “We wish Joe and Danny well in Kamloops and we are looking forward to Jake joining our hockey club immediately.”

Joe Gatenby was a 2012 WHL Bantam Draft of the Rockets who played in 174 games during his Rockets career.

A native of Vancouver, Kryski was a first round (13th overall) WHL Bantam Draft pick of the Prince Albert Raiders in 2013.

Zaharichuk, 19, split the 2015-2016 season with the Kamloops Blazers and the Ice. In a total of 60 games last year, Zaharichuk collected 41 points (12g-29a) along with eight penalty minutes. In 43 games in Cranbrook, the Sherwood Park, Alberta, product scored 28 points (8g-20a) along with six penalty minutes. The 5’8”, 155-pound forward has appeared in 108 Western Hockey League games registering 56 points (15g-41a) and 12 penalty minutes.

Sheen, 17, will turn 18 on September 20th. The Airdrie, Alberta, native completed in rookie season in 2015-2016 with the Hurricanes. In 46 games, the 6’3”. 212-pound forward registered 12 points (4g-8a) along with 44 penalty minutes and a plus-3 rating. Sheen, who is the cousin of former Hurricanes forward Riley Sheen, was an undrafted player in the WHL Bantam Draft.

The Hurricanes open 2016 ENMAX Training Camp on Thursday when Rookie Camp begins while Main Camp will commence on Saturday. The team will start the ENMAX Pre-Season on Friday, September 2nd when they will host the Medicine Hat Tigers in Coaldale.

Catch up on all the latest on the Lethbridge Hurricanes by visiting the team’s website at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com, and/or follow on Twitter @WHLHurricanes.

BWK Acquires Trio from Victoria

The Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings have announced the acquisition of two players and one prospect on this, the second day of Rookie Camp at Westman Communications Group Place.

General Manager Grant Armstrong says the club has obtained defenceman Jordan Wharrie, right-winger Tyler Thompson and his brother, prospect Baron Thompson from the Victoria Royals in exchange for a third round pick in 2017, a seventh round pick in 2018 as well as a conditional draft pick.

In the deal, the Wheat Kings will also receive a third and tenth round bantam pick in return.

A 19-year old Port Moody, B.C. product, the 6’2” 180 lb. Wharrie is a former fifth round bantam draft pick of the Everett Silvertips. In 34 games last season in Victoria, he had a goal, two points and 19 minutes in penalties.

A 6’4” 194 lb forward from Lakeville, Minnesota, the older Thompson scored two goals and three points with the Royals last season after splitting the 2014-15 season with the Omaha Lancers and Minnesota Revolution U18 clubs.

Thompson’s 17-year old brother Baron meanwhile is a 6’5” 229 lb right-winger, who scored two goals and 4 points in 26 games with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2015-16. A third round bantam draft choice of the Royals, Baron will be eligible for the 2017 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

All three players are expected to join the Wheat Kings this weekend as the defending WHL Champions close out their 2016 Training Camp.

The club’s Rookie Camp meanwhile wraps up today with two scrimmage games at 4 and 6pm. Main Camp will begin first thing Friday morning, with camp drawing to a close with the annual Intrasquad game at 2pm Sunday.

Phair, who stands at 6’4” and 181lbs, is from Carnduff, SK and was originally a 10th round pick of the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2013.

“We are excited to add Carter to our organization,” commented General Manager, Stu MacGregor. “He is a competitive goaltender that had a good season in Weyburn of the SJHL last year.”

Phair played last season with the Weyburn Red Wings of the SJHL. In 19 games he had an 8-4-1-0 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.47 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

“Carter will have an opportunity to compete for a position with our hockey club,” said MacGregor. “We needed to add depth to our goaltending with the possibility of starting the season without goaltender Connor Ingram due to NHL training camps. We also face the possibility of Connor being a part of Canada’s World Junior team.”

With the addition, the Blazers now have 31 players on their roster including 16 forwards, 11 defensemen and four goaltenders.

To purchase your 2016-17 season tickets, or for other ticketing information, please contact Ticketing & Promotions Coordinator, Missy Cederholm at 778-471-8068 or by email at mcederholm@blazerhockey.com.

Heid, a native of Fridley, Minnesota, was acquired by the Tigers last season from the Portland Winterhawks. In 62 games split between the Tigers and Winterhawks, Heid recorded 6 assists and collected 41 penalty minutes.

“We would like to thank Nick for his contributions to the Tigers and wish him all the best with Prince Albert,” stated General Manager and Head Coach Shaun Clouston.

Fix-Wolansky has also signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Oil Kings. The local Edmonton product spent last season with the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) where he put up 31 points (16G,15A) and 74 PIM.

“Trey brings a combination of an offensive element and a high-energy level to his game,” said Hansch. “With Trey being a right handed shot in the ‘99 age group we feel he will be a nice addition to our club.”

In two seasons with the CAC Canadian Bantam AAA team he played in 64 games scoring 33 goals with 51 assists for 84 points.

Giants Acquire Cal Babych

Vancouver, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants announced on Friday that the hockey club has acquired 1997-born forward Cal Babych from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

“We’re excited to add Cal to our group,” said General Manager Glen Hanlon. “The Babych family has an obvious connection to hockey in Vancouver, so Cal will be a welcome addition to the Giants.”

Babych, the son of former Vancouver Canuck Dave Babych, played 56 games with the Raiders during the 2015/16 season, scoring five goals and nine assists. The North Vancouver native was originally a fourth round pick of the Calgary Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Giants return to action tomorrow when they take on the Victoria Royals on Vancouver Island for their third game of the pre-season. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00pm from the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Vancouver will play its first home game of the exhibition campaign on Sunday when the Royals pay a visit to the Ladner Leisure Centre. Face-off is set for 2:00pm. Tickets will be available at the door for $10.